NATHAN Ellington is confident he can form a deadly strike partnership with Rob Earnshaw to help kick-start Albion's Premiership campaign.

NATHAN Ellington is confident he can form a deadly strike partnership with Rob Earnshaw to help kick-start Albion's Premiership campaign.

The Baggies take on Charlton this weekend hoping to end a run of four Premiership games without a victory.

The duo scored three of Albion's goals in Tuesday's 4-1 League Cup win - the first time they have started together.

And Ellington is hoping Bryan Robson will keep faith with his new-look forward line, especially as Rob Earnshaw scored a hat-trick the last time Albion played Alan Curbishley's men.

"Our partnership can bloosom," said Ellington, who joined Albion for #3million last month. "We are both bright thinking and we work quite well together.

"I just think the more games we play together, the more understanding you get with a player no matter who it is and Rob is a good player to play with. We can compliment each other really well.

"We have such a different array of strikers, the strong type, the quick type, we've got everything really.

"Myself and Robbie have been training together and linking up there as well. We had a lot of link-up play on Tuesday. I tried to get him through a few times and he tried to do the same for me - we got our goals and rewards in the end.

"We are both very hungry for goals. Our records are very similar, although I think he has scored a few more than me, but he is a really good player and I enjoy playing with him.

"If I can match the impact that he had last season (13 goals) I will be very happy. I want to get in there and start scoring some goals."

Despite their midweek form, neither player is guaranteed a first-team start, especially with Kevin Campbell and Kanu also available.

Baggies boss Robson will be hoping to get the all-clear on Geoff Horsfield, following his calf strain, while Chris Kirkland's fitness will also be assessed after he suffered a back injury earlier in the week.

One man unlikely to be fit is Diomansy Kamara, who suffered ankle ligament damage in Albion's Carling Cup win.

Steve Watson is expected to keep his place following Martin Albrechtsen's sending-off in the same match.